Outmatched and Outmanuevered

(Image by Robert Ariaill)

Despite Obama & Co's blathering about the "costs" Putin will pay for snatching the Crimea, the fact is we've been outmaneuvered militarily on the ground.  No matter what retribution--if any--the US and EU concoct, Putin presented the world with a diplomatic fait a compli.  Austin Bay explains how military maneuver creates facts on the ground.

Paul Greenberg reminds us that when a dirty job needs to be done, Russian czars send in the Cossacks.

(Image by Gary McCoy)

In this contest of wills, the leaders of America and Russia couldn't be any more different while still being categorized as being part of the same species.  Ralph Peters nails it with his comment that Putin believes in Russia, Obama does not believe in this country.

The Diplomad follows-up and illustrates what happens when a pajama boy confronts a cage fighter.